‘I haven’t been away long enough’ Dolph Ziggler revels in time away from WWE

Since his return to WWE TV last week, Dolph Ziggler has been promising the WWE Universe something new upon his in-ring comeback. Yet, Ziggler admits his return has come sooner than he’d have liked.

Until his backstage interview on last week’s SmackDown Live we hadn’t seen Dolph on WWE TV since he was eliminated from the United States Battle Royal on July 4. Yet the 37 year-old says that he feels he could have prolonged his absence from WWE TV.

“Some feel like it’s been too long since I’ve been away, I feel like it hasn’t been long enough.” The Show-off told Gorilla Position over SummerSlam weekend.

“I’ve been very lucky to be able to a lot of things outside of wrestling and I’ve been doing that over the last few months. It’s been leading to more things, which is very cool, and it’s all because of WWE helping me get my foot in the door in a few places. I’ve been lucky with this job and the years I’ve put in that I’ve still been able to work the live events and do some PR for the company, but it’s best that I’ve been off TV for a little bit. When you kids are in your AOL chat rooms talking about how bored you are of me, just remember every once in a while I need a break. I’ve been almost too fortunate to miss just four or five weeks in thirteen years of work and that’s not enough time off. So every once in while whether you need to be refreshed or step aside and then show up to show how good you are, I feel that’s very important. I’ve never been out for six months with a knee or a shoulder injury, one day I will, but I haven’t yet, so I think forcing a break so that everyone forgets about me for a while is for the best.”

Most of 2017 has seen Ziggler take on a veteran type role over on SmackDown, as he helps nurtures the next wave of WWE stars. None more evident than in his last on-screen feud, where he put over recent call-up Shinsuke Nakamura. And although he’d perhaps rather be battling Jinder Mahal for WWE’s top prize, Dolph feels there’s something to be said to being entrusted with his current position on the card.

“I hate and appreciate the role that I’m in; I want to be the world champion, I want to be on top of the world, but everyone can’t be champion. Being trusted with that role of mixing it with whoever the up and coming star is, knowing that’s my role for now, is knowing you have the trust of the company. Whether they like it or not, you’re the guy he needs to get in there with.”

Hear more from Dolph as he talks about his rivalry with Shinsuke Nakamura and who’s the next breakout star on the latest episode of Gorilla Position. Subscribe for free here and follow the show @WWEGP.